Heaven & Hell

Sixty seconds with Geezer Butler

Indy:I understand Heaven & Hell got together a few years ago to write some new songs for Rhino's anthology of the music you all did as Black Sabbath. Did you always know you would go on to tour behind that collection?

GB: At first we were just going to put the album out and then do some promotional gigs culminating in Radio City Music Hall. That was as far as it was going to go. We just wanted to let people remember we had done those three albums [1980's Heaven & Hell, 1981's Mob Rules and 1992's Dehumanizer].

Indy:So now here it is, some three years later, and not only is the band going back on tour, but you have a new CD [The Devil You Know] in stores. How did things develop to where you decided to make a new album?

GB: We were all getting on
incredibly well, and Ronnie [James Dio] said, 'Well, let's see if we can come up with a whole album out of it.' We had a few months off, got back together, and Tony [Iommi] had about 40-odd song ideas. We all got together at Ronnie's house and listened to all the stuff that Tony had, and it went from there.

Indy:You're obviously happy withThe Devil You Knowand the way this lineup is getting along. Does that make you think Heaven & Hell will go on to make more music and last for a while longer?

GB: I'm just happy to have this album. If it wraps at the end of this tour, then it's fine by me. We've done more than we ever thought we would. We take everything step by step rather than plan too far ahead.